05:10
Faizan
Golf club design and manufacture might not be rocket science, but it's pretty close. In fact, club makers employ engineers and scientists from fields such as aerospace to make incredibly sophisticated clubs that enable you to play your best. This involves components that can be adjusted to produce clubs that fit your swing and skill level. The torque and flex of the shaft are two of the key variables and should work in harmony.
Flexible
The flex of the shaft is the amount of bend in it. As Golf-Information.info explains, the amount of bend in the shaft varies from extremely whippy to extremely firm. If you generate a high amount of clubhead speed, you want a shaft on the firm end of the spectrum. Otherwise, it will whip too much through the hitting area and reduce your accuracy. If your swing speed is low, you want a more flexible shaft in order to use the whip of the club to impart more energy, and thus more distance, at the point of impact.
Variable
Shaft flexes commonly are labeled as ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra-stiff. A Ladies shaft, the most flexible, is geared toward players with swing speeds under 70 mph. A regular staff fits golfers with swing speeds in the 80 to 95 mph range and extra-stiff shafts are tailored for the most powerful swingers, including most professional golfers. Ignore the outdated labels. If your swing speed is slow and you're a younger male golfer, you'll probably play your best with a ladies or senior shaft.
Twistable
The torque of the shaft refers to the amount it twists when you swing. Club expert Frank Thomas at Golf.com compares it to twisting off a cap on a bottle. You have to apply torque to unscrew it. Clubs with a high degree of torque tend to feel softer, and those with low torque tend to feel firmer. Graphite shafts tend to have more torque than steel shafts. Shaft torque generally ranges from 2 degrees to 6 degrees. Torque can be significant if your clubhead speed is extremely high or low. But Thomas says "for 99 percent of golfers, a shaft with 3 degrees to 4 degrees of torque is sufficient."
Fit It
Given the range of variables in golf clubs and the complexity of deciphering all of the technical claims of golf manufacturers, the best way to find the right flex, torque and clubhead for your game is with the help of a professional club fitter. As "The Wall Street Journal" notes, club fitting no longer is reserved for elite golfers. In fact, high-handicappers, who need all the help they can get, often benefit the most from clubs that are customized.
Flexible
The flex of the shaft is the amount of bend in it. As Golf-Information.info explains, the amount of bend in the shaft varies from extremely whippy to extremely firm. If you generate a high amount of clubhead speed, you want a shaft on the firm end of the spectrum. Otherwise, it will whip too much through the hitting area and reduce your accuracy. If your swing speed is low, you want a more flexible shaft in order to use the whip of the club to impart more energy, and thus more distance, at the point of impact.
Variable
Shaft flexes commonly are labeled as ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra-stiff. A Ladies shaft, the most flexible, is geared toward players with swing speeds under 70 mph. A regular staff fits golfers with swing speeds in the 80 to 95 mph range and extra-stiff shafts are tailored for the most powerful swingers, including most professional golfers. Ignore the outdated labels. If your swing speed is slow and you're a younger male golfer, you'll probably play your best with a ladies or senior shaft.
Twistable
The torque of the shaft refers to the amount it twists when you swing. Club expert Frank Thomas at Golf.com compares it to twisting off a cap on a bottle. You have to apply torque to unscrew it. Clubs with a high degree of torque tend to feel softer, and those with low torque tend to feel firmer. Graphite shafts tend to have more torque than steel shafts. Shaft torque generally ranges from 2 degrees to 6 degrees. Torque can be significant if your clubhead speed is extremely high or low. But Thomas says "for 99 percent of golfers, a shaft with 3 degrees to 4 degrees of torque is sufficient."
Fit It
Given the range of variables in golf clubs and the complexity of deciphering all of the technical claims of golf manufacturers, the best way to find the right flex, torque and clubhead for your game is with the help of a professional club fitter. As "The Wall Street Journal" notes, club fitting no longer is reserved for elite golfers. In fact, high-handicappers, who need all the help they can get, often benefit the most from clubs that are customized.
Posted in: golf
